Asian stocks rise as Fed taper fears wane

Business men walk past the local government’s slogan in Chinese reading: “China My Dream” Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, in Shanghai, China’s financial hub. Asian stock markets mostly rose Monday after expectations for an imminent phasing out of the Federal Reserve’s monetary stimulus program began to fade. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

HONG KONG—Asian markets made modest gains Monday as speculation eased over whether the US Federal Reserve will begin an early tapering of its massive stimulus program.

Emerging-market currencies suffered a torrid few days of trading last week as dealers bet on an end to the Fed’s $85-billion-a-month monetary easing.

But figures showing a slump in US housing market sales on Friday allayed fears of an early stimulus rollback and led to rallies in Europe and the United States.

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The feel-good factor carried on into the start of the new week’s trade in Asia, with Sydney closing up 0.23 percent, or 12.0 points, at 5,135.4 and Seoul gaining 0.95 percent, or 17.70 points, to 1,887.86.

In Shanghai, Chinese shares jumped 1.90 percent, or 39.01 points, to 2,096.47 boosted by gains in financial stocks and enthusiasm for plans approved last week to create a free-trade zone in the city. Hong Kong closed 0.65 percent, or 141.81 points, higher at 22,005.32.

Tokyo stocks opened 0.43 percent higher but ended down 0.18 percent, or 24.27 points, at 13,636.28. Dealers said the early gains were eroded by profit-taking.

In emerging markets, where currencies tumbled last week over concerns that the stimulus-inspired investment splurges in their regions would end, trade was less positive.

Jakarta ended down 1.18 percent, or 49.16 points, at 4,120.67 while Kuala Lumpur also lost 0.08 percent, or 1.42 points, to close at 1,722.49.

Mumbai closed up 0.21 percent, or 38.69 points, to 18,558.13, its third straight day of gains.

There was some much-needed respite for emerging-market currencies. The Indian rupee, which tumbled to a record low of 65.56 to the dollar last week, fetched 64.14 to the dollar in Tokyo afternoon trade against 64.45 Friday afternoon.

The Indonesian rupiah edged up to 10,770 from 10,963.

In India, however, analysts said tough times were still ahead for the ailing national currency.

“The rupee is still in a bearish phase and the demand for dollars is not down,” said Param Sarma, chief executive with NSP Forex.

Expectations of an end to the US stimulus program have seen foreigners in recent months repatriate some of the vast sums that have poured into emerging economies. The pullout has hit currencies and equities.

The dollar was largely unchanged against major currencies. It was at 98.60 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade while the euro bought $1.3382 and 131.91 yen.

The market rises in Asia echoed modest gains on Wall Street and in Europe at the end of last week.